Daily Meditations
Read today's Just for Today or A Spiritual Principle A Day readings.
Just for Today
January 06, 2026 |
How does it work? |
| Page 6 |
| "I used to think that I had all the answers, but today I am glad that I don't." |
| . |
| What are the two favorite words of most addicts? "I know!" Unfortunately, many of us arrive in NA thinking we have all the answers. We have a lot of knowledge about what's wrong with us. But in and of itself, knowledge never helped us stay clean for any length of time. Members who have achieved long-term recovery will be the first to admit that the longer they are here, the more they have to learn. But they do know one thing: By following this simple Twelve Step program, they have been able to stay clean. They no longer ask "why"; they ask "how." The value of endless speculation pales in comparison to the experience of addicts who've found a way to stay clean and live clean. This doesn't mean we don't ask "why" when it's appropriate. We don't come to NA and stop thinking! But in the beginning, it's often a very good idea to reword our questions. Instead of asking "why," we ask "how." How do I work this step? How often should I attend meetings? How do I stay clean? |
| Just for Today: I don't have all the answers, but I know where to find the ones that matter. Today, I will ask another addict, "How does it work?"
|
A Spiritual Principle a Day
January 06, 2026 |
Vigilance and the Second Tradition |
| Page 6 |
| "We need to keep an eye on our passion, lest it become self-righteousness; and we keep an eye on our disagreements, lest we begin to harbor ill will toward our fellows. Vigilance is an inside job." |
| Guiding Principles, Tradition Two, |
| The practice of vigilance can be like holding vigil: keeping space and silence to honor something of value, such as the spiritual principles that bring us freedom and peace of mind. In our personal recovery, vigilance often means paying close attention to our feelings, thoughts, and actions so we can catch ourselves before slipping into old behaviors or patterns. Our Basic Text reminds us that \"we are each other\'s eyes and ears.\" Our sponsor and other NA members can hold vigil with us by reflecting our values to us when we forget them or pointing out our bone-headed actions when we fail to see them. We need one another\'s vigilance.
Our vigilance has a place in NA service, too. We strive always to adhere to the guidance of our Traditions, working to maintain unity, anonymity, focus on our primary purpose, and so forth. Many of us have gone through a phase--or phases--in our service to NA when we felt as though the Traditions needed enforcers, and we were just the right candidates. One member shared, \"I had been calling the local helpline and pretending to be a using addict to see if I could catch the volunteers making a mistake. Then my sponsor asked me which list of spiritual principles I found \'deception\' in. I felt pretty embarrassed.\"
Our Traditions guide us to do our best for NA, and we each have a responsibility to remain vigilant and speak our conscience. Sometimes, those who disagree may treat us like vigilantes--people who take matters into their own hands. Other times, we might feel like vigilantes--like NA won\'t survive if we don\'t save it. Tradition Two reminds us to trust the expression of a Higher Power in our group conscience. NA is a we thing, not a me thing--rather than enforcing our Traditions or trying to catch our fellow members slipping, we speak our conscience clearly and directly and leave the results up to a power greater than ourselves. |
| ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— |
| I can be vigilant without becoming a vigilante; my perspectives and interpretations are one of many. I will give my fellow members something we all deserve: room to make mistakes--and room to learn from them and grow. |